curriculum_fictae | [PSL] time travel, time travel

[ Martin had always known that Lukas would kill him in the end. If not along the way, then surely at the end, once he'd gotten what he wanted out of Martin, whatever that turned out to be. When the Lonely rose up to swallow him, he'd accepted his impending death with ... what?

What did he have left, really? Numbness, mostly. A hallucination of Jon in the Lonely, looking for him, but - but that was impossible, ridiculous. His mind playing cruel tricks. He settled himself down in the frigid surf, knees drawn up close to his chest, unshed tears frozen to his cheeks and lashes.

And then. A door. A door that shouldn't exist, that couldn't exist. That he shouldn't take at all. The Lonely was terrible, yes, but it was quiet, and it was peaceful. Martin was aligned enough with it by now to very nearly enjoy it, in a strange and terrible way. The Spiral would be infinitely worse than this quiet beach.

But ... it was hope, too. In a strange way. Hope enough that Martin found himself turning the door handle and stepping through, leaving the false comfort of the Lonely behind him.

The transition was unpleasant. Long. But Martin couldn't remember it after; he only remembered stumbling out through the door of a supply closet somewhere deep in the Archives, blinking up at the dim bulbs that pretended to be sufficient. What time was it? Had he escaped? Where were Lukas and Elias now?

And where was Jon? ]

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From:

kayakking

[He gives Jon a long look.]

I'm... thinking we should get all four of us together and use the time we have effectively. I'm not sure why he'd even give us time to plan, but the fact we have it... if you just go to him obediently- What comes back out?

From:

eyediot

Who even knows. Nothing good. That's all I can say for sure.

[He wants to get up and pace around SO BADLY. Instead, he taps one finger on the chair's arm rest idly. Just... Thinking.]

It's-- It's not even obediently. [Sorry, Tim, this is a pedantic thing, but he cannot abide letting you think he's doing it by choice.] He... He did something. Algric called it compelling, a Compulsion. A thought or, or idea he puts into your head. You can't... ignore it. So this isn't, "Oh my boss said I have to do this thing so I'd better." It's more "there is a supernatural thing in my head that is literally forcing me to do this and I don't want to find out what happens if I try to ignore it."

From:

kayakking

I know.

[He says, with the confidence of someone who DOES.]

The shit he did to mess with Algric's head is absolutely monstrous.

From:

eyediot

Yes, the-- Making him come in by the end of week to do who knows what to him.

[Said with the confidence of someone who doesn't know the depths of horrible, awful things it's capable of. Jon is still thinking in the literal action sense. He never even considered anything more conceptual or mental.]

From:

kayakking

No, the - Okay, yes that, but also, the whole can't look at Martin thing.

From:

eyediot

[A beat.]

The what.

From:

kayakking

[Good god, he sees the warning rattle in that tone and expression. He.. hadn't had that conversation. (But then, there's SO much ... and just the way Algric prioritizes and...)

Fuck.

He resettles carefully, hand out half in a 'okay stay calm' and half in a 'okay let me explain' motion.]

So.. apparently, Elias forced a compulsion in Algric's head in the... in his past but before coming here. [... That's where we are. Those are words he just strung together.]

It forces him to see ... someone he hates when he looks at himself, I think, is what he said. It's bad in mirrors, but apparently, looking at Martin was next level terrible.

From:

eyediot

[Jon watches Tim, eyes focused in that very determined, unwavering stare. Then he breathes in very deliberately through his nose and holds it a moment.]

Christ.

[Like, sure he'd noticed Algric avoids his own reflection, but he never thought to ask. Figured it was something just... He didn't know. He didn't really think about it, more to do with the Lonely and how he can blur or disappear altogether. But the way he'd just dead fainted when Tim shoved him in front of Martin and had Tim's tie around his eyes that whole conversation. It should have been some kind of clue. But he didn't push, too many other big things that needed his attention.

He should have asked. He should have figured it out.

He's only ever truly hated one person in his life, but he's finding it easier and easier to hate a second.]

So our boss is truly, unquestionably, a bloody monster.

From:

kayakking

[Tim isn't exactly what he expected. There's some part of him still pushing past the last few months that expected deflections and explanations, accusations of delays and distractions.

So the relief is almost as powerful as the absolute agreement, at that undeniably intense anger and loathing simmering in Jon's words and expressions.

God, someone GETS it. And he wasn't expecting it to be Jon.

But at this moment, he's profoundly glad it is.]

As bad, if not worse than any of the things we've studied.

I don't even care about getting the research out of it I need. We should just- just take the place down.

From:

eyediot

[If it were a stranger, that's likely what he'd get. But it's Algric, Martin's future. One of his immediate assistants, and... someone he's gotten close to.

He's a little protective. Sue him.

But this being bad enough that Tim doesn't even want the circus research... Even Jon hesitates.]

I-- Are you sure?

From:

kayakking

Yes.

[The answer is immediate, bursting on a heavy exhale.]

Look. It's not just that we are working for literal evil, but by being there we're just-

We're going to get worse until we're going to be monsters. Or dead. That's the crux of it. That's what we end up.

From:

eyediot

[He watches Tim, still. Weighing the pros and cons mentally - the loss of knowledge and experiences versus the safety of... everyone. Like it's a hard choice. (And for Jon it is, he can't help it, he needs to know, is it any wonder Elias chose him to groom?)

Finally, he nods.]

The tunnels. I don't think he can see down there.

From:

kayakking

[He blinks once, off balance again.]

... Good info. So is that a plan there or a work from there sort of thing?

Honestly, I had kind of thought the tunnel thing was you cracking under stress...

From:

eyediot

It-- It sort of was. Me cracking, a bit, but-- It's also true he. As far as I can tell, he can't see down there. So...

[Sighs.]

Work from there. And hopefully whatever's down there leaves us alone.

[He still doesn't know it's Leitner. Heaven help them if he does find out.]

From:

kayakking

Right.

Can get things staged and ready. I'm not sure how much Martin and I get watched, but I don't think it's a lot. We can start going in.

From:

eyediot

Right.

[Deep breath.

Hooooooo they're doing this. This is a thing they're doing. Talking about... planning to destroy the Archives. As much as he knows it's for the best of literally the world, it's... still hard to fathom. It's fine. Just destroying an entire archive of centuries' worth of research and information, it's.... fine oh god he hates this idea.]

I'll, um. I'll let Algric know.

From:

kayakking

He uh... has an idea, though I actually don't know his exact position.

[... now that he thinks about it.]

I was going to just. Do it, and he talked me down.

From:

eyediot

What?

[He's getting a very rapidfire show of how much shit people don't tell him. Not just in his personal life like this, but just... all around. Christ.]

I mean, I'm glad he talked you down for now, but... [There's clear frustration there, in his hand gripping the arm of his chair a bit tighter than he had been. All that bluster and shit about wanting to change this timeline, and Algric won't even tell him half of what's going on.]

From:

kayakking

But...

[And the prompt is interrupted by a firm knock at the door.]

Ah, crap. Hang on.

From:

eyediot

Ah- right.

[They did order food, didn't they? He'll have to transfer some money over to Tim to pay for his part. God, right he did get his phone out already, he'll just. Do that now. When Tim comes back, there'll be enough for his half, delivery fee, and tip waiting for him. But all that loose anger he had for a moment drifts when left sitting on his own for the few minutes.]

From:

kayakking

[Which means the next few minutes are Tim bustling back in, unpacking the styrofoam from the plastic bag - Kitchen counter is totally out, so, the arranging happens on the coffee table, pulled out to accommodate the wheelchair better.

It's a nice distraction at least, fragrant with masala and saffron. But it does destroy the pace of the conversation almost entirely.

Also plastic cutlery is a bitch to open one-handed.]

I swear the wrapping has gotten worse.

From:

eyediot

[He's about to make a comment about Tim not needing to move stuff around in his own home for Jon, but stops seeing the cutlery issue. And then has to stop himself again from offering to do it because really, self, look at yourself.

He'll just. Busy himself getting his own open, then sets it in front of Tim's and holds out a hand for the packaging Tim's trying to open.]

It always does get worse with time.

From:

kayakking

[There is a stubborn ass moment. Right there on Tim's face to see.

But in almost a mirroring of Jon's own, he looks at the other man's feet and back and just. Hands it over.]

I'll blame cost cutting and the Tories.

[When everything's set, he finally just.. rewinds a bit, picking back over words and tone and- crap.]

So, you were saying...

From:

eyediot

[With the cutlerly open for them both and everything set, he'll start going into his meal. He's at least glad Tim remembered his usual order.]

We were saying there's a lot that I haven't been told. ...I wonder what else there is?

From:

kayakking

[Jon's changed it ZERO times in how long?

Tim's eyes track back to the paper Jon has written out, chewing his curry thoughtfully.]

I'll send you what I know and remember tonight.